Frederic E. Church, A
Catskill Landsape, ca. 1858
Included in the current exhibition in a section entitled,
“Romanticism,” the work of Frederic Church might be more readily associated
with the term “Hudson River School.” Not a bricks-and-mortar school, but a
style of painting, the Hudson River School artists were known for their great
attention to detail, rendering minute details of grass, leaves, or rocks to
advertise both their observational skills and their technical prowess. The
“Romantic” aspect of this kind of painting can be found in the subject matter,
usually a natural scene of great, awe-inspiring beauty that emphasized the
sublime aspects of the world.
During a period when Church was sought out out exalted views
of volcanoes, terrifying icebergs, and exotic rainforests for his paintings, A Catskill Landscape may seem a tame
subject. When Church visited the Catskills with his new bride in 1860, the area
was already a fashionable resort.
Sightseeing tourists enjoyed “sunrising,” gathering early in the morning
to meditate on the panoramic view from hilltop vantage points Church’s treatment of the scene accentuates
the dramatic aspects of the wild foliage and distant mountains by lighting them
with a blazing atmospheric effect. His
scientific study of nature helped Church achieve a likeness so convincing that
viewers thrilled to be transported to his wild locales, even if they were as
close to home as the Catskills.
No comments:
Post a Comment